Adaptive audio quality amelioration for video conferencing

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method, including: receiving, by the computing device, connecting device data from a connecting device associated with a participant of the video conference, wherein the connecting device data includes an audio quality data and a device connectivity data; determining, by the computing device, a conferencing readiness score based on the connecting device data; determining, by the computing device, the conferencing readiness score does not meet a threshold score; determining, by the computing device, an ameliorative action configured to raise the conferencing readiness score to meet the threshold score; and providing, by the computing device, the ameliorative action to the connecting device.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the present invention relate generally to video conferencingand, more particularly, to ameliorating video conferencing audio issuespre-participation through a readiness determination.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the invention, there is a computer-implementedmethod including: receiving, by a computing device, connecting devicedata from a connecting device associated with a participant of a videoconference, wherein the connecting device data includes audio qualitydata and device connectivity data; determining, by the computing device,a conferencing readiness score based on the connecting device data;determining, by the computing device, the conferencing readiness scoredoes not meet a threshold score; determining, by the computing device,an ameliorative action configured to raise the conferencing readinessscore to meet the threshold score; and providing, by the computingdevice, the ameliorative action to the connecting device.

In another aspect of the invention, there is a computer program productincluding one or more computer readable storage media having programinstructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readablestorage media. The program instructions are executable to: receiveclient device data from a client device associated with a participant ofa video conference, wherein the client device data includes audioquality data and client connectivity data; determine a conferencingreadiness score based on the client device data; determine theconferencing readiness score does not meet a threshold score; determinean ameliorative action configured to raise the conferencing readinessscore to meet the threshold score; and provide the ameliorative actionto the client device.

In another aspect of the invention, there is system including aprocessor, a computer readable memory, one or more computer readablestorage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the oneor more computer readable storage media. The program instructions areexecutable to: receive host device data from a hosting device associatedwith a host of a video conference; receive client device data from aclient device associated with a participant of the video conference,wherein the client device data includes audio quality data and clientconnectivity data; determine a readiness score based on the clientdevice data; determine the readiness score does not meet a thresholdscore; determine an ameliorative action to raise the readiness score tomeet the threshold score, wherein the ameliorative action is based onthe client device data and a social relationship to the participant; andprovide the ameliorative action to the client device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention are described in the detaileddescription which follows, in reference to the noted plurality ofdrawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing node according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts abstraction model layers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an exemplary environment in accordancewith aspects of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method in accordance withaspects of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of another exemplary method in accordance withaspects of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of another exemplary method in accordance withaspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention relate generally to video conferencingand, more particularly, to pre-participation audio quality analysis ofvideo conferencing participants. In embodiments, a computing devicefacilitates readiness determinations for video conferencingparticipants. In this manner, implementations of the invention provideaudio quality analysis to determine readiness of participants.

In aspects of the invention, there is a method for preparing a pluralityof participants to participate in an online meeting before the meetingstarts, including: detecting for each participant, as they attempt tojoin the online meeting, a set of participant parameters includingparticipant physical location (e.g., as determined by IP address of acomputer being used by that participant), participant audio devicequality (e.g., as determined by audio devices connected to the computerbeing used by that participant), and participant connectivity (e.g., asdetermined by bandwidth available to the computer being used by thatparticipant); determining whether each participant, based upon their setof participant parameters, satisfies a meeting readiness score;providing a corrective support action for a corresponding participant toincrease their score for each corresponding participant that has ameeting readiness score that is below a threshold; and automaticallybeginning the meeting once all of the participants have achieved thethreshold meeting readiness score.

In aspects of the invention, the method includes corrective supportactions for a participant having low audio device quality or lowconnectivity, the corrective support actions including: locating, basedon the participant's physical location, another participant nearby witha higher audio quality or connectivity; and instructing the otherparticipant to share a computer and/or audio device with the nearbyparticipant with the low audio device quality or low connectivity.

Joining a video conference can often lead to irritation at how long ittakes for all the participants to get connected to the audio. Manypeople complain that the audio connection experiences a significant lagin contrast to the video feeds which quickly acquire the videoconference. For example, when joining video conferences, people areconnected quickly but may spend a couple of minutes just to get theaudio connected and audio quality maximized for all the participants.

Implementations of the invention provide an improvement in the technicalfield of video conferencing by providing a technical solution to theseproblems with audio connection and quality during video conferencing. Inembodiments, the technical solution involves: receiving, by a computingdevice, connecting device data from a connecting device associated witha participant of a video conference, wherein the connecting device dataincludes audio quality data and device connectivity data; determining,by the computing device, a conferencing readiness score based on theconnecting device data; determining, by the computing device, theconferencing readiness score does not meet a threshold score;determining, by the computing device, an ameliorative action configuredto raise the conferencing readiness score to meet the threshold score;and providing, by the computing device, the ameliorative action to theconnecting device. These steps allow the video conference audio qualityamelioration device to better manage audio quality and audio connectionsfor participants and more efficiently provide users with ameliorativesteps before joining a video conference to prevent wasted time duringthe video conference.

Implementations of the invention utilize a historical feedback loop foraudio devices and audio configurations within a physical location. Inembodiments, the historical feedback loop may include computer modellingsuch as machine learning and/or natural language processing (NLP) modelsto better determine audio device and audio configuration selection for aphysical location. In embodiments, the audio configuration may includeaudio connections and other configurations that may affect audio qualityof the audio devices in the physical location. The term “machinelearning”—and based on that the term “machine learning model” or“machine learning processing”— may denote known methods of enabling acomputer system to improve its capabilities automatically throughexperience and/or repetition without procedural programming. Thereby,machine learning can be seen as a subset of artificial intelligence.Machine learning algorithms build a mathematical model—i.e., the machinelearning model—based on sample data, known as “training data”, in orderto make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed todo so.

It should be understood that, to the extent implementations of theinvention collect, store, or employ personal information provided by, orobtained from, individuals, such information shall be used in accordancewith all applicable laws concerning protection of personal information.Additionally, the collection, storage, and use of such information maybe subject to consent of the individual to such activity, for example,through “opt-in” or “opt-out” processes as may be appropriate for thesituation and type of information. Storage and use of personalinformation may be in an appropriately secure manner reflective of thetype of information, for example, through various encryption andanonymization techniques for particularly sensitive information.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium or media, as used herein, is not to beconstrued as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves orother freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic wavespropagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., lightpulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a computer, or other programmable data processing apparatusto produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computerreadable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readablestorage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable dataprocessing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the computer readable storage medium havinginstructions stored therein comprises an article of manufactureincluding instructions which implement aspects of the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be accomplished as one step, executed concurrently,substantially concurrently, in a partially or wholly temporallyoverlapping manner, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in thereverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will alsobe noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/orflowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts orcarry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detaileddescription on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recitedherein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one example of a suitablecloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10 is capable ofbeing implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forthhereinabove.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 1 , computer system/server 12 in cloud computing node10 is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 12 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28,and a bus 18 that couples various system components including systemmemory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 includes one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 3 , a set of functional abstraction layersprovided by cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 2 ) is shown. It shouldbe understood in advance that the components, layers, and functionsshown in FIG. 3 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments ofthe invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layersand corresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may include applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and video conference audio qualityamelioration 96.

Implementations of the invention may include a computer system/server 12of FIG. 1 in which one or more of the program modules 42 are configuredto perform (or cause the computer system/server 12 to perform) one ofmore functions of the video conference audio quality amelioration 96 ofFIG. 3 . For example, the one or more of the program modules 42 may beconfigured to: receive, by a computing device, connecting device datafrom a connecting device associated with a participant of a videoconference, wherein the connecting device data includes audio qualitydata and device connectivity data; determine, by the computing device, aconferencing readiness score (also referred to as the “readiness score”)based on the connecting device data; determine, by the computing device,the conferencing readiness score does not meet a threshold score;determine, by the computing device, an ameliorative action configured toraise the conferencing readiness score to meet the threshold score; andprovide, by the computing device, the ameliorative action to theconnecting device.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an exemplary video conferencing audioquality amelioration environment in accordance with aspects of theinvention. In embodiments, the video conferencing audio qualityamelioration environment 400 includes a network 402 enablingcommunication between video conference audio quality amelioration device404, video conference hosting device 406 (referred to as a hostingdevice 406), video conference platform hosting server(s) 408, andparticipant client device(s) 410 (referred to as a client device 410).

In embodiments, the hosting device 406 comprises a computing device(e.g., the computer system/server 12 of FIG. 1 , or elements thereof) ina networked environment. In implementations, the hosting device 406comprises a personal computing device (e.g., 54A, 54B, 54C, etc.) in thecloud computing environment 50 of FIG. 2 . The hosting device 406 maycomprise one or more program modules such as program modules 42described with respect to FIG. 1 . In accordance with aspects of theinvention described below, the hosting device 406 may manage and storepreference data for participating in a video conference by users ofclient device(s) 410. The hosting device 406 may store a database ofusers including data of user related devices, audio quality levels, andaudio connection levels. Although the instant application may referencethe conference as video conferences particularly, all these termsincluding “web conferencing”, “e-conferencing”, “virtual conferencing”,“web meetings”, etc., may be used interchangeably. In an exemplaryembodiment, the hosting device 406 comprises an installed conferencingmodule 420 a that is used to collect audio connection and quality datafor the hosting device 406.

In embodiments, the video conference platform hosting server(s) 408comprise computing devices of a video conferencing platform used to hostvideo conferences on the video conferencing platform. Video conferencingplatforms may include, but are not limited to, Zoom™, WebEx™, MicrosoftTeams™, Google Meet™, Skype™, etc. The video conferencing platform mayhost the video conference on the video conference platform hostingserver(s) 408; however, hosting device 406 will initiate, via the videoconferencing platform, the video conference through a video conferenceplatform interface.

In embodiments, the client device(s) 410 comprise computing devices(e.g., the computer system/server 12 of FIG. 1 , or elements thereof) ina networked environment. In implementations, the client device(s) 410comprise personal computing devices (e.g., 54A, 54B, 54C, etc.) in thecloud computing environment 50 of FIG. 2 . The client device(s) 410 maycomprise one or more program modules such as program modules 42described with respect to FIG. 1 . In accordance with aspects of theinvention described below, the client device(s) 410 may manage and storedata for audio device configuration and connection for participating inthe video conference. In embodiments, the client device(s) 410 comprisean installed conferencing module 420 b that is used to collect audioconnection and quality data for the client device(s) 410.

In embodiments, the hosting device 406 and client device(s) 410 are allparticipants in the video conference (i.e., are all connecting devicesto the video conference). However, audio quality for the hosting device406 may largely be focused on connected audio input devices (e.g.,microphones), whereas audio quality for the client device(s) 410 maylargely be focused on connected audio output devices (e.g., headphones,speakers, etc.). In embodiments, hosting device 406 and client device(s)410 may include connected audio input devices and connected audio outputdevices with separate audio quality and connection levels. Therefore,the hosting device 406 and client device(s) 410 may each consider theconnected audio input device and connected audio output device usingseparate readiness scores (as some video conferences will have moreinteraction among the participants). For example, when one readinessscore (either the connected audio input device or connected audio outputdevice) of a hosting device 406 does not meet a threshold score, thehosting device 406 cannot join the video conference. According toaspects of the invention, the connected audio input device or connectedaudio output device that does not meet the threshold score isameliorated prior to joining the video conference. Thus, both theconnected audio input device and connected audio output device must meetthe threshold score to join the video conference.

In embodiments, the readiness score of the primary connected audiodevice (e.g., for hosting device 406 a microphone, and for clientdevice(s) 410 a speaker) must meet the threshold score before joiningthe video conference. Thus, a secondary connected audio device (e.g.,for hosting device 406 a speaker, and for client device(s) 410 amicrophone) may not meet the threshold score, however, may later beameliorated after the hosting device 406 or client device(s) 410 havejoined the video conference.

In implementations, the video conference audio quality ameliorationdevice 404 comprises one or more server computing devices each includingone or more elements of the computer system/server 12 of FIG. 1 . In oneexample, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404comprises one or more virtual machines (VMs) or one or more containersrunning on one or more server computing devices. In embodiments, thevideo conference audio quality amelioration device 404 is configured todetermine a readiness score for each device (e.g., 406 and 410)attempting to connect to (e.g., join) a conference, and to provide anamelioration action to any such device whose readiness score does notsatisfy a predefined threshold value. In embodiments, and as describedherein, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404determines the readiness score for each device (e.g., 406 and 410) basedon one or more of: user audio magnitude level (e.g., using sound waveanalysis for amplitude); user audio clarity level (e.g., using NLP onaudio via speech-to-text); user audio connection level (e.g.,consistency of audio, abrupt cuts and sound loss, audio lag, andblocking delay/jitter); user audio pertinence level (e.g., based on acombination of other factors to determine if speech is relevant, andincluding opt-in audio processing and association of semantic meetingcategory); and audio connection (e.g., based on a Boolean score ofwhether or not the user has joined, detection of phrases such as “Canyou hear me?”, detection of successful audio catch and response, and adetermination of whether there is more than one open microphone in eachlocation).

In embodiments, the video conference audio quality amelioration device404 comprises conferencing module 420 c, audio quality module 421,client connection module 422, readiness module 423, and ameliorationmodule 424, each of which may comprise one or more program module(s) 42of FIG. 1 , for example. The video conference audio quality ameliorationdevice 404 may include additional or fewer modules than those shown inFIG. 4 . In embodiments, separate modules may be integrated into asingle module. Additionally, or alternatively, a single module may beimplemented as multiple modules. Moreover, the quantity of devicesand/or networks in the environment is not limited to what is shown inFIG. 4 . In practice, the environment may include additional devicesand/or networks; fewer devices and/or networks; different devices and/ornetworks; or differently arranged devices and/or networks thanillustrated in FIG. 4 .

In embodiments, the conferencing module 420 c is configured to work withvarious video conferencing platforms (i.e., applications). Inembodiments, the conferencing module 420 c works with both host andclient devices (of participants). In an exemplary embodiment, hostingdevice 406 and/or client device(s) 410 each install a conferencingmodule 420 a and 420 b, respectively, that passes information to theconferencing module 420 c. In an exemplary embodiment, the conferencingmodule 420 c interacts directly with video conferencing platformsinstalled on the hosting device 406 and/or client device(s) 410 withoutadapted conferencing module(s) 420 a and 420 b installed.

In embodiments, the conferencing module 420 c is configured to receiveconnecting device data. In embodiments, the connecting device dataincludes at least one of: a physical location of a connecting device(e.g., hosting device 406 or client device(s) 410) of the videoconference; a connectivity value of the connecting device; a digitallocation of the connecting device (i.e., IP address of the connectingdevice); available audio devices associated with a user of theconnecting device; and other conference preferences of the user for thevideo conference.

In embodiments, the conferencing module 420 c is configured to receivehost device data associated with a hosting device 406 establishing avideo conference. In embodiments, the host device data includes at leastone of: a physical location of the hosting device 406 of the videoconference; a connectivity value of the hosting device 406; a digitallocation of the hosting device 406 (i.e., IP address of the hostingdevice 406); available audio devices associated with a host user of thehosting device 406; and other conference preferences of the host userfor the video conference. The host device data may be used to bothestablish connectivity of the hosting device 406 to the video conferenceand provide preferences for connectivity and audio quality of clientdevice(s) 410.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the connectivity value indicatesa connection capability of a connecting device (e.g., hosting device 406or client device(s) 410) to the video conferencing platform. Theconnectivity value may be determined based on the video conferencingplatform (i.e., preferred/supported audio devices of the platform andservice capabilities), available bandwidth to the connecting device,network latency of the connecting device (i.e., connection to the videoconference platform hosting server(s) 408), and/or historicalconnectivity information for the connecting device. In an exemplaryembodiment, the connectivity value may further include direct collectionof connection data based on requesting a connection test be done by auser of the connecting device. Based on the connection test, theconferencing module 420 c collects the connection data for networklatency of the connecting device. For example, the connection test maydetermine whether the user has connected to the video conference audio,detect a user voice activity, detect a successful audio catch andresponse and network latency with the connecting device, and determinewhether there are more than one open microphones in a location.

In embodiments, each of these determinations is scored to provide deviceconnectivity data (also referred to as client connectivity data or hostconnectivity data) for the connecting device. A connectivity data scoremay be used to determine whether a connecting device meets a minimumconnectivity threshold to connect to the video conference. For example,a maximum connectivity value of 100 may be for an ideal connection tothe video conference in which the connecting device has no latency,using a preferred audio device, and available bandwidth being double thebandwidth that will be used. In this example, a minimum connectivitydata score may be 60 for a weak but allowable connection to the videoconference. Such a connectivity data may use a preferred audio device,meet bandwidth requirements, but have a network latency that is high,but audio may still be heard clearly with some buffering. Continuing theexample, any connectivity data score less than 60 does not provide agood enough connection to the video conferencing platform andreconnection using a different audio device, different connectingdevice, and/or joining another user is suggested. The connectivitythreshold indicates a connectivity quality of the connecting device tothe video conference.

In embodiments, the conferencing module 420 c also tracks joinconfigurations (e.g., video only, audio only, other video conferencingconfiguration selections by the user, etc.), successful connection data(e.g., wait time until successful connection using the joinconfiguration), other audio transference devices (e.g., audio devicesthat are associated with a user of the connecting device and alsoconnected to the video conference), and audio inputs of the user (e.g.,the user saying “hello?” or “can you hear me?”). In non-limitingexemplary embodiments, the join configurations may also include usedaudio and video devices, backgrounds, mute settings, etc., that mayaffect the quality of the audio connection. In non-limiting exemplaryembodiments, the audio transference devices may include audio devices ofdevices associated with the user, such as a user being associated withboth a computer and a mobile device (both of which have their own audioinput device and audio output device). For example, a user may connectto the video conference through a computer over video and audio, buttheir computer audio dies and thus also connects to audio of the videoconference using a mobile device. In non-limiting exemplary embodiments,the audio inputs are recorded and a natural language processingalgorithm processes the recorded audio input to determine what the useris saying.

In embodiments, the audio quality module 421 is configured to determinea mean opinion score (MOS) of the audio for a user of the connectingdevice. The MOS indicates an audio quality level of the connected audiodevice and is used to determine whether a connecting device is ready tojoin the video conference (e.g., for use in a conferencing readinessscore). The MOS is determined by receiving and analyzing audio from theconnecting device to determine audio quality data. The MOS mayadditionally be based on an historic audio quality MOS. The audioquality data includes an audio magnitude level, an audio clarity level,an audio connection level, and an audio pertinence level. Each audioquality data is given a MOS that is totaled to generate the MOS for theuser. In exemplary embodiments, the audio magnitude level is determinedusing a sound wave analysis for amplitude. In exemplary embodiments, theaudio clarity level is determined using natural language processing ofaudio with speech-to-text. In embodiments, when the natural languageprocessing of the audio for speech-to-text cannot determine what isbeing said, an occlusion has occurred and is noted as a clarity issue.In some instances, this is not as useful of an indication of audioquality, for example when a presenter/host has a strong accent that thenatural language processor cannot process. In an exemplary embodiment,the audio connection level is determined based on consistency of theaudio, determining whether there are abrupt cuts and sound losses,determining audio lag by comparing against the video, and determiningdelay and/or jitter in the audio. In an exemplary embodiment, the audiopertinence level is based on determining if the user's speech isoccurring at relevant times based on the audio magnitude and audioclarity levels, and determining if the user's speech is associated withthe topic being discussed at the video conference based on a semanticanalysis using natural language processing.

In embodiments, the client connection module 422 is configured to trackdevices (including audio devices) associated with users throughconnecting device information. In embodiments, connecting deviceinformation for the connecting devices includes a present physical anddigital location of the connecting devices. In embodiments, connectingdevice information for the connecting devices may also includeinformation about connecting devices of other users, who are alsoparticipants in the video conference, these devices being physicallyproximate to a user. In embodiments, connecting device information forthe connecting devices includes historical use by the user of the audiodevices during video conferences.

In embodiments, the readiness module 423 is configured to determine aconferencing readiness score. The conferencing readiness score indicateswhether a user's audio connection to the video conference can smoothlyand capably handle participation in an audio portion of the videoconference. Thus, the conferencing readiness score includes one or moredeterminations based on: a Boolean score of whether or not the user ofthe connecting device has joined the video conference, detection of auser's voice activity, detection of a successful catch and response,whether there is more than one audio device (multiple audio inputdevices (e.g., microphones) or multiple audio output devices (e.g.,speakers)), audio connection capabilities, and the MOS determinationsdescribed above. To make these determinations, the readiness module 423is configured to collect information for each user from the conferencingmodule 420 c and audio quality module 421 (e.g., MOS). In a non-limitingexemplary embodiment, when the conferencing readiness score falls belowa threshold score, the video conference audio quality ameliorationdevice 404 determines an ameliorative action and passes the user to theamelioration module 424.

In embodiments, the amelioration module 424 is configured to determinean ameliorative action when the conferencing readiness score fromreadiness module 423 does not meet a threshold score. Depending onwhether the deficiency in the readiness stems from audio quality orconnectivity of the connecting device, the user is provided with anameliorative action to resolve the deficiency. In embodiments, theamelioration module 424 provides an ameliorative action by transmittingone or more instructions to the device (e.g., 406 or 410) associatedwith the low conferencing readiness score. In one example, the one ormore instructions cause the device to output a suggestion to the user,the suggestion embodying the ameliorative action. In another example,when a user has opted-in for automated control, the one or moreinstructions cause the device to automatically implement theameliorative action, e.g., by changing one or more device parameters. Inembodiments, for a deficiency in audio quality, the audio devicesettings are adjusted, or the audio device connection is adjusted. In anon-limiting exemplary embodiment, if the audio magnitude level is toohigh or too low, the audio magnitude level is adjusted either on theconnecting device that is receiving the audio or the connecting devicethat is sending the audio. For example, audio levels are raised for anaudio magnitude level that is too low and audio levels are lowered foran audio magnitude level that is too high.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, if the audio clarity level istoo low (e.g., has occlusions), then the amelioration module 424determines whether the audio device is one that affects audio claritylevels, whether various audio devices may be interfering with oneanother, and or whether sound buffering may resolve the audio clarity.In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, determining an audio deviceaffects audio clarity levels includes determining different audioconnection types for the audio device (e.g., hardwire line or wirelessconnection). For example, when the amelioration module 424 determinesthe audio device is a Bluetooth device, speaker, or other audio deviceconnected over a communication method that modifies clarity, a newconnection for the audio device or alternate audio device may be used.For example, when the audio device is a Bluetooth device, the user maybe asked to connect the audio device physically over a 3.5 mm audio jackor over wireless networking or other wireless communication method. Ifthe audio device is incapable of other connections, another audio devicemay be selected based on one or more of: its association to the user;preference by the video conferencing platform; and historical selectionor usage by the user. The historical selection may be, for example, fromBluetooth earbuds to a speaker of a mobile device that the Bluetoothearbuds were connected. Further, the other audio device may be selectedusing an auto-abandonment logic for the next best audio quality andconnection. For example, the next best audio device may be another audiodevice associated with the same connecting device as the audio devicethat is being abandoned. In embodiments, the audio clarity level may bescored and compared against a predetermined clarity threshold score toindicate that the audio clarity level is high enough to hear the videoconference without issue. The audio clarity threshold may indicate aquality of audio clarity based on the audio device's input or output atthe connecting device.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the amelioration module 424provides a sound buffering configuration to the connecting device formagnitude readjustment to increase the audio magnitude to a connectingdevice. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the amelioration module424 determines various audio devices are interfering with one anotherand the amelioration module 424 selects a single audio device to outputthe audio of the video conference. In one example, the speaker of amobile phone and a user's connected Bluetooth headphones are bothoutputting the audio from the video conference and the sounds are notsyncing up resulting in unclear audio. In this example, the ameliorationmodule 424 would provide the connecting device with an ameliorationaction to block audio from the speaker or headphones based on audioquality (e.g., best MOS) for each audio device, selecting the audiodevice with the highest MOS. In yet another example, a hosting device406 has its own microphone and another microphone connected to itthrough a webcam. Audio from the host may be captured by bothmicrophones; however, there may be feedback caused by using twomicrophones and thus one of the microphones is selected for use and oneis disabled. In this example, the microphone with the highest MOS isselected to remain open and the other microphone is blocked to ensurebetter audio clarity (e.g., without occlusions from interfering audio).

In embodiments, when the audio connection level is too low, the user isnotified of the poor connection and that the user should move to a newlocation with a stronger connection, join another participating user tolisten in on the video conference as seen below, and/or provide analternate audio connection method. In a non-limiting exemplaryembodiment, the new location is selected based on historicalmicro-location tracking in an area proximate to the user for optimalaudio quality. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, themicro-location is applied in a machine learning process to adjust audioquality and derive, over time, an optimal audio quality for themicro-location. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the alternateaudio connection method includes the video conferencing platform callingthe user on their mobile device or having the user connect through adifferent manner than originally established. In a non-limitingexemplary embodiment, a change in location may result in mesh networktransference for the audio connection and/or a change in audio device ininstances where a multi-connective audio system is used. For example, asa user changes locations, the audio connection may change network accesspoints. As a result, the system may change a speaker of themulti-connective audio system to provide the closest speaker in thelocation. In embodiments, the audio connection level may be scored andcompared against a predetermined audio connection threshold score toindicate that the audio clarity level is high enough to hear the videoconference without issue. The audio connection threshold indicating aquality of audio connection may be based on the connecting device'sconnection to the audio input or output device.

In embodiments, when the audio pertinence level falls below a pertinencethreshold, the user is notified that they will be muted, and theamelioration module 424 automatically mutes the user. In embodiments,when the user cannot connect successfully prior to the video conference,the user is notified to connect through a different manner. For example,a user may be notified that the audio is not connecting, and they shouldtry a different audio connection method (e.g., dial in to a toll-freeline, connect through another device, connect through the desktop appinstead of the mobile app, etc.).

In embodiments, the amelioration module 424 also determines a socialrelationship of the user with other users that are physically proximateparticipants to a user. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, thesesocial relationships may first be decided based on relationship to theuser and proximity to the user. For example, nearby users may includeones with no relationship to the user and others that are connectedthrough a social network. Persons connected through a social network maybe prioritized further based on proximity by analyzing the digitallocation (e.g., IP address and LAN analysis) and physical location(e.g., GPS) to determine a micro-location of the connecting device thatis closest in proximity. Further, previous/historical sharing byparticipants during past video conferences may be tracked anddetermined. The historical sharing may be of different participants (theproximate participant and another participant) or the same participants(the proximate participant and the user). However, for historicalsharing, when sharing was of the same participants, such sharing willhave a higher value than different participants.

Additionally, the participant profiles may be analyzed to determine apotential location of the participant. For example, one participant mayinclude an office address and number in their user profile. The officeaddress may be presumed to be the potential micro-location of the userand may be combined with the digital and physical location to betterdetermine the nearby users' locations. In a non-limiting exemplaryembodiment, the other participant's audio device should have an audioquality meeting a predetermined audio quality level.

In embodiments, once potential alternative options for physicallyproximate participants to join are found, the amelioration module 424selects a participant to join that has the highest social relationship,has historically shared audio devices, and/or has the closestmicro-location proximity. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, theother participant's MOS of the used audio device is tracked to determinethe closest other participant with the highest audio device MOS. In anon-limiting exemplary embodiment, each of the social relationships,micro-location determination, historical and current sharing, and audiodevice MOS have a score that is totaled in determining the bestparticipant to join. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, aparticipant that is currently sharing their audio connection may also beprioritized over a participant that is not currently sharing their audioconnection. Once a participant is selected for joining, the user and/orother participant may be notified of the need to have a person to jointhem and the identity of the person (e.g., other user or participant)joining.

In embodiments, the amelioration module 424 prioritizes solutions basedon their effect on the user and other participants. In a non-limitingexemplary embodiment, solutions that fix the audio quality of the audiodevice are prioritized over changing to other audio devices associatedwith the user. And changing to other audio devices is prioritized overjoining other participants.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method in accordance withaspects of the present invention. Steps of the method may be carried outin the environment of FIG. 4 and are described with reference toelements depicted in FIG. 4 .

At step 501, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 receives host device data from a hosting device 406 associatedwith a host of a video conference, wherein the host device data includesat least one of a host audio quality data and a host connectivity data.In embodiments, the host device data may be used to determine whetherthe host device audio connection needs amelioration before the videoconference begins. In embodiments, the host audio quality data is basedon audio collected from the hosting device 406. For example, the hostaudio quality data may include a microphone audio quality of theassociated hosting device 406.

At step 503, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 receives device data from a client device 410 associated witha participant of the video conference, wherein the client device dataincludes at least one of a client audio quality data and a clientconnectivity data. In embodiments, the client device data may be used todetermine whether the client device audio connection needs ameliorationbefore the video conference begins. In embodiments, the client audioquality data is based on audio received at the client device 410. Forexample, the client audio quality data may be based on speaker audioquality of the associated client device 410. In embodiments, the audioconnection settings are initially determined based on a historicalconfiguration of the audio device.

At step 505, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 determines a conferencing readiness score based on collecteddata. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the conferencing readinessscore is based on collected data including connecting device data and/oraudio quality data of the client device. In a non-limiting exemplaryembodiment, each of the collected data is scored and totaled torepresent the conferencing readiness score.

At step 507, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 determines the conferencing readiness score does not meet athreshold score. In embodiments, the threshold score acts as a totalscore for collected data that will meet minimum requirements to connectan audio device of the client device without issue.

At step 509, when the conferencing readiness score does not meet thethreshold score, the video conference audio quality amelioration device404 of FIG. 4 determines an ameliorative action to raise the readinessscore to meet the threshold score based on a deficiency in the clientaudio quality data or client connectivity data.

At step 511, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 provides the ameliorative action to a hosting device 406 orclient device 410. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, theameliorative action is based on the factor in which the deficiency isoccurring. As described herein, deficiencies may include: the audiomagnitude is too high or too low; the audio clarity is too low; theaudio connection level is too low; the audio pertinence level is toolow; and/or the user cannot connect at all to the video conference. Asdescribed herein, a different ameliorative action may be provided to theconnecting device based on different deficiencies. In embodiments, thehosting device 406 or client device 410 is provided with a notificationof an ameliorative action for a user of the hosting device or clientdevice to apply. In embodiments, the hosting device 406 or client device410 is provided with the ameliorative action to be applied. In thisembodiment, the hosting device 406 or client device 410 is configured toautomatically apply the ameliorative action based on instructionprovided by the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404.

At step 513, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 allows the connecting device into the video conference basedon the connecting device meeting the threshold score after applying theameliorative action. In embodiments, the video conference audio qualityamelioration device 404 interfaces with the video conference platformhosting server 408 to allow the connecting device to join the videoconference. In exemplary embodiments, the video conference audio qualityamelioration device 404 sends a request to the video conference platformhosting server 408 to allow the connecting device to join. Inembodiments, if audio issues occur after the connecting device hasjoined the video conference, then an ameliorative action may be appliedto return the connecting device to a conferencing readiness score thatmeets the threshold score.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of another exemplary method in accordance withaspects of the present invention. Steps of the method may be carried outin the environment of FIG. 4 and are described with reference toelements depicted in FIG. 4 .

At step 601, a user of a client device 410 of FIG. 4 installs aconferencing module 420 b for adapting the client device 410 to thevideo conference audio quality amelioration device 404.

At step 603, a user (e.g., host user) of a hosting device 406 of FIG. 4installs a conferencing module 420 a for adapting the hosting device 406to the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404.

At step 605, the video conference is hosted by a video conferencingplatform and host device data is collected from hosting device 406 ofFIG. 4 through conferencing module 420 a. The host device data includesan audio quality MOS, physical location, and digital location of thehosting device 406.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of another exemplary method in accordance withaspects of the present invention. Steps of the method may be carried outin the environment of FIG. 4 and are described with reference toelements depicted in FIG. 4 . In embodiments, the exemplary method ofFIG. 7 occurs after the exemplary method of FIG. 6 .

At step 701, a client device 410 of FIG. 4 initiates an attempt to joina video conference. In embodiments, the participant is an invitee to theconference. The participant previously installed the conferencing module420 b in FIG. 6 which is now used in the exemplary method of FIG. 7 . Inembodiments, the invitees may be placed in a waiting room and notallowed to join the video conference until the invitee is determined tobe ready to join. In embodiments, readiness of an invitee is determinedafter the invitee joins the video conference.

At step 703, a conferencing module 420 b of FIG. 4 captures user inputsat the client device 410 as the client device 410 joins the videoconference. The inputs may include button selections by the participantin configuring the audio connection to the video conference. Forexample, the participant may select video only or audio only.

At step 705, the conferencing module 420 b of FIG. 4 capturesinteraction characteristics as the client device 410 joins the videoconference. The interaction characteristics include at least one of awaiting time until successful connection by the client device 410, audiodevices for transference, and participant audio inputs such asvocalizations.

At step 707, the readiness module 423 of FIG. 4 determines aconferencing readiness score including an audio connection and audioquality MOS of the audio device of the client device 410. Theconferencing readiness score additionally includes connection data thatis associated with interaction characteristics (e.g., user selections)and configurations (e.g., audio settings) of the audio connection to thevideo conference.

At step 709, a video conference audio quality amelioration device 404 ofFIG. 4 determines if the conferencing readiness score is below athreshold score. If the conferencing readiness score is not below athreshold score, the client device 410 is allowed to join the videoconference. In the case of the invitee already having joined the videoconference, no action is taken.

At step 711, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 determines an ameliorative action and provides theameliorative action to the connecting device to increase theconferencing readiness score above the threshold score. In anon-limiting exemplary embodiment, the ameliorative action is based on adeficiency that is occurring in the audio connection to the videoconference. The ameliorative action results in the conferencingreadiness score meeting or exceeding the readiness threshold.

At step 713, the video conference audio quality amelioration device 404of FIG. 4 allows the invitee to join the video conference. For example,the invitee is moved from the waiting room to the video conference.

In embodiments, a service provider could offer to perform the processesdescribed herein. In this case, the service provider can create,maintain, deploy, support, etc., the computer infrastructure thatperforms the process steps of the invention for one or more customers.These customers may be, for example, any business that uses technology.In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s)under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service providercan receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or morethird parties.

In still additional embodiments, the invention provides acomputer-implemented method, via a network. In this case, a computerinfrastructure, such as computer system/server 12 (FIG. 1 ), can beprovided and one or more systems for performing the processes of theinvention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified,etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, thedeployment of a system can comprise one or more of: (1) installingprogram code on a computing device, such as computer system/server 12(as shown in FIG. 1 ), from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding oneor more computing devices to the computer infrastructure; and (3)incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of thecomputer infrastructure to enable the computer infrastructure to performthe processes of the invention.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:receiving, by a computing device, connecting device data from aconnecting device associated with a participant of a video conference,wherein the connecting device data includes audio quality data anddevice connectivity data; determining, by the computing device, aconferencing readiness score based on the connecting device data;determining, by the computing device, the conferencing readiness scoredoes not meet a threshold score; determining, by the computing device,an ameliorative action configured to raise the conferencing readinessscore to meet the threshold score; and providing, by the computingdevice, the ameliorative action to the connecting device.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the connecting devicedata includes one or more selected from the group consisting of:physical location of the connecting device; connectivity value of theconnecting device; digital location of the connecting device; availableaudio devices associated with a user of the connecting device; andconference preferences of the user for the video conference.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the conferencingreadiness score is determined based on one or more selected from a groupconsisting of: audio magnitude based on a soundwave analysis foramplitude of audio for a participant of the connecting device; audioclarity based on a natural language processing of the audio; audioconnection level based on consistency of the audio; audio pertinencebased on a determined pertinence of the audio to a topic of the videoconference and time of the audio; and audio connection selection basedon a mean opinion score (MOS) of audio for each audio device of a set ofconnecting devices associated with the participant.
 4. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: providinganother ameliorative action for the participant based on determining adevice connectivity falls below a connectivity threshold.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: providinganother ameliorative action for the participant based on determining theconnecting device cannot connect to the video conference.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting aparticipant device of another participant of the video conference basedon one or more selected from a group consisting of: a highestconferencing readiness score of the another participant; and socialrelationship of the another participant to the participant.
 7. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: determininga MOS of audio for a participant of the connecting device, and whereinthe conferencing readiness score is based on the MOS of the audio. 8.The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the socialrelationship includes one or more selected from a group consisting of:relationship of the participant with the another participant; historicalaudio share of the participant using an audio connection of theparticipant device; distance of the participant device from theparticipant; and available audio devices of the participant device andaudio quality data of each of the available audio devices.
 9. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising: in responseto determining the audio clarity does not meet a clarity threshold,selecting at least one amelioration method from a group consisting of:determining different audio connection types that will modify the audioclarity; selecting other available connecting devices of theparticipant; selecting a participant device of another participant toshare with the participant; buffering the audio of the connecting deviceto readjust the audio magnitude; and selecting a single audio source ofthe connecting device.
 10. The computer-implemented method of claim 3,further comprising: determining the audio connection level does not meetan audio connection threshold; and notifying the participant of a poorconnection, wherein the notifying suggests that the participant move toa new physical location.
 11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the connecting device data includes historical connectionconfigurations of the connecting device to other video conferences. 12.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computing deviceincludes software provided as a service in a cloud environment.
 13. Acomputer program product comprising one or more computer readablestorage media having program instructions collectively stored on the oneor more computer readable storage media, the program instructionsexecutable to: receive client device data from a client deviceassociated with a participant of a video conference, wherein the clientdevice data includes audio quality data and client connectivity data;determine a conferencing readiness score based on the client devicedata; determine the conferencing readiness score does not meet athreshold score; determine an ameliorative action configured to raisethe conferencing readiness score to meet the threshold score; andprovide the ameliorative action to the client device.
 14. The computerprogram product of claim 13, wherein the client device data includes oneor more selected from the group consisting of: physical location of theclient device; connectivity value of the client device based on theclient connectivity data; digital location of the client device;available audio devices of the client device; available client devicesof the participant; and client user preferences of the participant toconnect to the video conference.
 15. The computer program product ofclaim 13, wherein the conferencing readiness score is determined basedon one or more selected from a group consisting of: audio magnitudebased on a soundwave analysis for amplitude of audio for a participantof the connecting device; audio clarity based on a natural languageprocessing of the audio; audio connection level based on consistency ofthe audio; audio pertinence based on a determined pertinence of theaudio to a topic of the video conference and time of the audio; andaudio connection selection based on a mean opinion score (MOS) of audiofor each audio device of a set of connecting devices associated with theparticipant
 16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein theprogram instructions are further executable to: provide anotherameliorative action to the client device based on determining a deviceconnectivity falls below a connectivity threshold.
 17. A systemcomprising: a processor, a computer readable memory, one or morecomputer readable storage media, and program instructions collectivelystored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the programinstructions executable to: receive host device data from a hostingdevice associated with a host of a video conference; receive clientdevice data from a client device associated with a participant of thevideo conference, wherein the client device data includes audio qualitydata and client connectivity data; determine a readiness score based onthe client device data; determine the readiness score does not meet athreshold score; determine an ameliorative action to raise the readinessscore to meet the threshold score based on the readiness score does notmeet the threshold score, wherein the ameliorative action is based onthe client device data and a social relationship to the participant; andprovide the ameliorative action to the client device.
 18. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the client device data includes one or more selectedfrom the group consisting of: physical location of the client device;connectivity value of the client device based on the client connectivitydata; digital location of the client device; available audio devices ofthe client device; available client devices of the participant; andclient user preferences of the participant to connect to the videoconference.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the readiness scoreincludes one or more scores of the audio quality data including one ormore selected from the group consisting of: audio magnitude based on asoundwave analysis for amplitude of audio for a participant of theconnecting device; audio clarity based on a natural language processingof the audio; audio connection level based on consistency of the audio;audio pertinence based on a determined pertinence of the audio to atopic of the video conference and time of the audio; and audioconnection selection based on a mean opinion score (MOS) of audio foreach audio device of a set of connecting devices associated with theparticipant.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the programinstructions are further executable to: provide another ameliorativeaction to the client device based on determining a device connectivityfalls below a connectivity threshold.